In a statement, McCully said he would not put his name on the National Party list for 2017 and would bow out of politics at that point, but would stay on in Foreign Affairs until then if that was Prime Minister Bill English's wish.
"In light of the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, I want to be clear that I will not be a nominee for the National Party list. I have made the Prime Minister and other senior colleagues aware of this position," McCully said.
In February he had announced he would not stand again in the East Coast Bays electorate he has held since 1987, but had said he intended to stay as long as then Prime Minister John Key wanted him in the Foreign Affairs portfolio.
"I feel greatly privileged to have had a unique partnership with John Key in managing New Zealand's foreign policy interests for over eight years," he said today.
McCully did not say whether he would stay until the 2017 election - that may depend on whether English wants him to remain in Foreign Affairs until that point. McCully said English had his complete support.
"I want to ensure that New Zealand's international relationships have a smooth transition from the Key Government to the English Government. How I might best contribute to that process is a matter for the Prime Minister."
"We can look back on some significant foreign policy achievements, including New Zealand's election to the United Nations Security Council, where I am currently attending my final meetings in New York prior to the conclusion of our term at the end of December."
